Rats are smart enough to learn their names and come when you call them. This will be my first home-bred litter as Rizzle Rat Rattery, so I asked some more experienced breeders what they feed their pregnant does. A couple months ago I got a rat from the pet store and she was pregnant! A rat that is obviously pregnant that plateaus at a certain weight, and maintains that weight, raises some serious concerns. Rats will breed and produce many offspring if left to their own devices, but it is better to breed rats in a controlled way to prevent a rat population explosion. This knowledge is important for good baby rat care. As a minimum, a cage with 12 by 24 inches (2 square feet) of floor space is okay for two smaller rats as long as the cage is tall and you provide shelves and/or hammocks for extra space. The best home for your rats is a wire cage – the larger and taller the better, as rats are active and love to climb. Care Sheet for Pet Rats by Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun Pet rats are domesticated animals and as different from wild rats as dogs are from wolves. If your rat managed to have contact with a male during this time, whether because she was separated from her siblings too late, she came from a careless owner or even managed to encounter a wild rat while she was outside the cage, she could easily be pregnant. When she is 3-4 weeks you will need to separate males and females. I know pretty much everything I need to know but I just kind of want to make sure. Hamster cages are not big enough. About five days ago we put our two rats together and they mated.. And the past few days I've noticed that she has been acting kind of weird, like jumpy and scared all the time. A large wire cage is best, especially one with horizontal bars that allow the rat to climb on the sides.A tall cage with ramps and platforms is ideal for providing room for multiple rats. And we found out she was pregnant only two days before she gave birth! Your Pregnant Rat. Like other rodents, rats are easy to care for, but they offer so much more. Your female rat will be pregnant for 3 weeks or 21 days. How to Care for a Pregnant Pet Rat. If your female rat has just given birth to a litter, it can be heartwarming to see her with all of her little babies ('kittens'). The best home for your rats is a wire cage – the larger and taller the better, as rats are active and love to climb. But I spent all that time doing as much research as I possibly could. It is possible that the fetuses have died without being reabsorbed, the weight gain was due to other medical issues unrelated to pregnancy, or that the babies are stuck and the rat is unable to deliver. Aquarium-style glass cages shouldn’t be used because the ventilation … This doesn’t have to be done immediately after she becomes pregnant but should be done about 14-18 days after it (if you know when) or when you determine that she might indeed be pregnant… The floor should be solid rather than wire, with a solid tray underneath, to avoid a rat trapping and injuring its feet or limbs. I have a rat that i recently purchased from a petstore (I know all about the rat mills and such, and I am not asking about that, so please do comment on that fact unless it pertains to my question, or answering the question) I am 70-80% sure she is pregnant, and had a vet give me the same prognosis (ie. How to Care for a Young Rat. Rat pregnancies are fairly short and because of that, it is a good idea to separate her from the other rats in her cage. How to Sex a Rat from Birth. Aquarium-style glass cages shouldn’t be used because the ventilation … If your female rat has just given birth to a litter, it can be heartwarming to see her with all of her little babies ('kittens'). we are not completely certain, but there is a high chance). She gave birth within the first week we had her. JoinRats assumes no responsibility for the misuse or misunderstanding of the information here, and makes no guarantees with respect to the issues related to rat pregnancy, the birthing process, or the care of baby rats. Their first six weeks of life are a rapid period of development. Often they are too small to be felt within the uterus, and the gentlest manipulation may damage them. Rats can make wonderful pets. Rats are lively and intelligent creatures that can grow into great pets with the proper care and handling. If her delivery time has passed without babies being born immediate veterinary intervention is …